In this episode, we are joined by Paula Berton, Scientific Innovation Executive and Academic Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, to explore how a research-intensive university is reimagining entrepreneurship from the inside out. Paula shares how the Hunter Hub shifts the focus from startups alone to entrepreneurial thinking as a mindset—building confidence, communication, and collaboration skills across disciplines. She discusses tailoring programmes for researchers, creating one-to-one mentoring with empathy, opening multiple pathways to impact (venture, policy, partnership, community), and working with faculties to bring entrepreneurial learning into curricula and co-curricula.
From moving beyond a single “startup pipeline” to a pathways model that values personal growth as much as venture creation, to designing safe, energising spaces where people can try, fail and try again, to aligning language, partnerships, and metrics so more academics feel welcome—this conversation is packed with practical insights for institutions looking to turn research into real-world value without forcing a one-size-fits-all route.
In this episode, we are joined by Paul Harris, Executive Director of the Innovative Research Universities (IRU), to unpack what the evidence really says about university–industry collaboration in Australia.
From reframing myths with data, to strengthening long-term structures like the Industry PhD programme, to the case for national coordination, mission-based compacts and a better balance between fundamental research and commercialisation, this conversation offers practical, system-level insights.
In this episode, we are joined by Lisa Martin, Innovation Lead at the University of Canterbury Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE), to explore how one of New Zealand’s leading universities is building a generation of innovators and change makers. Lisa shares how UCE is reshaping entrepreneurship education, placing values, community and experiential learning at the heart of its model.
From designing the 10-week Summer Startup Programme, to embedding Māori values, this conversation is packed with lessons for institutions seeking to empower students, nurture resilience and connect universities more deeply with industry and society.
In this episode, we are joined by Jens Eichler, Hydrogen Technology and Business Architect at 3M, to explore how they nurture ideas through its celebrated 15% Culture, which encourages employees to set aside a portion of their work time to proactively cultivate and pursue innovative ideas that excite them.
Jens shares how this approach empowers employees to pursue entrepreneurial projects, foster collaboration across departments, and even build meaningful partnerships with universities.
In this episode, we’re joined by Lori Glover, Executive Director of Strategic Alliances at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). Lori shares how CSAIL built one of MIT’s largest industry collaboration programmes, creating multiple pathways for companies to engage with groundbreaking research.
From tiered partnerships and matchmaking between faculty and industry to navigating a complex university landscape, this conversation offers practical lessons on building trust, demonstrating value, and designing collaborations that last.
In this episode, we spoke with Marc Sedam, Vice President of Technology Opportunities and Ventures at NYU, about transforming one of the US’s largest tech transfer operations.
Marc shares how NYU is scaling innovation, building stronger industry relationships, and even using AI to reshape commercialisation, offering practical insights for anyone interested in turning research into real-world impact.
We are joined by Ville Krannila, Head of CRM and Analytics at Aalto University in Finland, to dive into their journey of implementing and embedding a CRM culture. Ville shares how Aalto is using CRM not just as a tool, but as a catalyst to break down silos, connect data across functions, and strengthen partnerships with industry and society.
From navigating cultural change and overcoming resistance to data sharing, to building step-by-step solutions that make collaboration smarter and more impactful, this conversation offers practical insights for universities striving to be more connected and manage partnerships more effectively.
In this episode, we spoke with Patrice Ludwig, Interim Assistant Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at James Madison University (JMU). We'll unpack how JMU is reshaping internships through its transdisciplinary X-Labs and a pioneering partnership with industry.
JMU prepares students to thrive in diverse teams, embrace leadership flexibility, and gain the “power skills” employers value most. From rethinking traditional career pathways to tackling the challenge of retaining talent locally, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how universities can create meaningful, future-ready experiences for their students.
For this week's episode, we sat down with Robert Mark Morgan, award-winning educator, designer, and creative advocate at Washington University in St. Louis, to explore why creativity belongs at the heart of modern education. From rethinking classroom spaces to breaking down the false divide between intelligence and creativity, Robert shares how he challenges traditional academic silos, helps students embrace failure, and nurtures creative intelligence as an essential skill for the future.
In this episode, we are joined by Esther Roberts, Deputy Director for Business Development – Enterprise Partnerships at the University of South Australia, to explore how they have built a partner-first engagement model through its Enterprise Hub. Esther shares how the university has reshaped its culture, structures and systems to simplify collaboration with industry and create long-term, strategic partnerships.
From sector-aligned teams to integrated service delivery, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone looking to transform how their institution engages with the outside world.
In today's episode, we explore how ASML, one of the world’s leading technology companies, builds powerful, long-term partnerships with universities to tackle the shortage of STEM talent in the semiconductor industry.
Our guest, Wesley Crock — Global Manager of University Relations at ASML — shares how the company takes a strategic, ecosystem-wide approach to collaborating with universities.
Whether you work in academia, industry or policy, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how partnerships can help address critical talent and innovation challenges.
In today’s episode, we welcome Susan Elrod – a seasoned higher education leader, change agent, and former university chancellor whose career spans more than two decades across multiple U.S. university systems. Susan joins us to discuss the complexities of driving systemic change in higher education, unpacking what it really takes to go beyond surface-level reforms and embed meaningful, long-lasting transformation.
In today’s episode, we delve into what it truly means to be a collaborative, impact-driven university. Our guest is Freek van Muiswinkel, Director of Entrepreneurship and Regional Partnerships at Utrecht University – an institution that’s redefining how universities connect with their regions, foster entrepreneurship, and drive societal change.
Freek shares how the university has broken down internal silos, built new governance models, and embedded recognition and rewards to support those working at the intersections of research, education, and impact.
In this episode, we revisit a brilliant conversation with Sally-Ann Williams, CEO of Cicada Innovations – Australia’s home for deep-tech ventures, in recognition of Cicada´s 25-year anniversary.
Having supported over 500 companies across health, AgTech, quantum, space, and beyond, this episode offers a timely reflection on what it really takes to translate breakthrough ideas from the lab to the market.
Sally-Ann shares an insightful take on the challenges of commercialising deep-tech, the importance of founder mindset, and the power of strategic partnerships.
Originally published in January 2024, this episode is re-released in celebration of Cicada Innovations’ 25-year milestone.
In this episode, we’re diving into how physical spaces—campuses, libraries, innovation hubs—can be designed not just to house activity, but to actively enable collaboration, entrepreneurship, and student success.
For that, we have invited design strategist Elliot Felix, Partner and US Education Sector Leader at Buro Happold, to share how universities can create spaces that truly support student success, innovation, and meaningful connection.
In this episode, Rainer Schmidt-Rudloff, Director of University Relations at Infineon, shares how the company goes beyond sponsorships to actively engage in talent development.
From offering international internships to providing real-world case studies and expert coaching, Infineon ensures that students gain both academic knowledge and hands-on experience.
But what makes these partnerships truly successful? Tune in to find more!
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating intersection of academia and the arts. Joining us is Dilshani Weerasinghe, Executive Director of Queensland Ballet, who shares how the organisation collaborates with universities to drive innovation, research, and talent development in the creative industries.
From using dance to support health and well-being to interdisciplinary partnerships in science, business, and technology, Dilshani reveals how these collaborations are shaping the future of the arts.
In this episode, we are joined by Frances Hardiman, Head of the Faculty of Engineering Built Environment at the South East Technological University (SETU) and lead of Engineering the Southeast, an industry-led cluster in Ireland.
She will share how her team built strong connections across the triple helix, the key success factors behind effective collaboration, and why we should continue celebrating the small wins.
In this episode, we are joined by Nicholas Haskins, Chief Operating Officer of the New South Wales Smart Sensing Network, who will share how the NSSN bridges the gap between academia, industry, and government, to turn research into real-world impact.
From fostering partnerships to overcoming collaboration challenges, this episode is packed with insights on making innovation happen.
Let’s dive in!
We are diving into the world of university-driven innovation with a spotlight on the UiO Growth House—the University of Oslo’s innovation unit for Life Sciences, Health, and Technology.
We are joined by Hilde Nebb, Innovation Director of the Growth House, and Norunn K. Torheim, Head of Communications, as they share insights on building a thriving innovation ecosystem, and provide a sneak peek into the upcoming UIIN Nordic Forum in March, where they will be sharing more best practices on industry collaboration.
